Thinking of cutting the cord on your home phone? Millions of people have dropped their traditional landline phone service and opted instead to go totally wireless. But, how do you know if this is the right option for you?

According to a survey made by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), about 7.5 million Americans have scrapped their landlines and rely solely on their wireless phones. Of this number, the greatest percent of wireless users seems to be of the younger generation. There is no definite measure of user demographics but it seems that the trend is toward younger people who lead mobile lifestyles.

You might ask, "What about me? Is going mobile the right choice for my lifestyle?"Obviously, the decision to dump your traditional phone service and go completely wireless is an individual one. If you answer "yes" to some or all of the following questions, you may be a good candidate for going mobile:

* Do I lead a mobile lifestyle?

Wireless, or cellular, phones are enormously popular because they combine convenience and portability in one neat package. That's why wireless phones have become the standing symbols of the mobile lifestyle. If you frequently travel, or spend a great deal of time out and about, then you're probably in the perfect position to cut the cord. Why do you need a landline phone when most people you know can easily reach you on your wireless phone?

* Do I have a small household?

The main issue here is the overall cost. If you live in a big household, you'll naturally have more rooms in which you'd want or need to install a phone. A family with two adults and two children may opt to have a phone in each of four rooms. It's possible to do this with a single wired line. With wireless phones, on the other hand, you'd need to have four separate phone lines. That can be quite costly. Some wireless phone companies have realized the need for this type of service, and offer family plans to reduce the cost of multiple cell phones in the household. Even still, if you have a big household, the cost will be considerably higher as compared to a single landline number.

* Am I, or is my family, a light to moderate Telecom user?

There is another important cost issue to consider in terms of Telecom usage. Most landline plans are based on a flat "all-you-can-talk" rate. With wireless phones, the rate is usually competitive with most landline bills. As you talk more, however, the cost increases. This is because wireless phones will bill on a per-minute basis. If you're considering a wireless phone, determine your Telecom usage to be sure you won't be overextending your budget.

* Can I live with poor reception or dropped calls bother me?

This is a fact of life for mobile phone users. When you pick up a landline, there is about 100% chance that you're going to get a dial tone. Unfortunately, with wireless phones, the percentage might be a little lower. Reliability is a factor; so check user ratings for different wireless companies.

If you answered, "yes" to these questions, then you may be a prime candidate for going mobile. There are lots of great deals on cellular phones, so go shopping to find the best rate, plan and phone for your needs.